Sanitary device.



PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

G. H. DAVIS.

SANITARY DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 10,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 787,357. PATBNTED APR.18, 1905.

G. H. DAVIS.

SANITARY DEVICE.

APPLIOATIQN FILED MAY 10,1904. z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNTTED STATES Patented April '18, 1905.

PATENT @ertoe (IEORGE lil. DAVIS, OF POR'VILANI), MAINE.

SANITARY DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 78 7,357, dated April18, 1905.

Application led May l0, 1904. Serial No. 207,267.

be it known that l, (lumai u ll'. Davis, acitizen of the United States,residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine,have invented a certain new and useful Sanitary Device, of which thefollowing' is a specilicatiou, reference being' had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a novel sanitary device, and has for itsprimary object the provision of a sheet of a contour and size adapted tooverlie and lit the ordinary closet-seat, said sheet being formed,preferably, of a cheap medicated substance. such as paper, and dcsignedfor individual use and immediate destruction, thereby preventing thespread of olnloxious diseases, the danger of which is obviously inherentin the toilet apparatus of public conveyances, hotels, and, in fact, allplaces where such apparatus is subjected to indiscriminate use.

'lhe invention further embraces the provision of a sheet having' acentral portion adapted to be removed to provide an opening inconformity with the usual closet-opening' and a sheet or sheets oftoilet-paper associated with said central portion, whereby the same maybe secured thereto or inclosed therewithin and carried thereby.

A. preferable embodiment of the invention comprises a single sheetformed and folded with its immediately-associated parts, whereby thesame constitutes an entity independent of all other sheets, whereby thearticles may bel vended in suitable machines furnished for that purposeor inpackets of convenient numbers for traveling-kits and the like, or,in fact, the device may be dispensed in any other manner found expedientaccording to the circumstances surrounding their distribution.

'l`he novel details in the construction and arrangement of the severalparts of the device will be apparent from the detailed descriptionhereinafter when read in connection with the acconipanying drawings,forming part hereof, and wherein the above as well as other embodimentsof the invention are suggested.

ln the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the folded devicesuitable for distribution through the medium of a check or coincontrolled vendingmachine. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a small packet ofthe devices suitable for traveling purposes. Fig. 3 is an elevation ofone of the devices unfolded. Fig. -l is a transverse section of Fig. 3on the line .r .1' thereof. Fig. 5 isa longitudinal sectional view ofthe same ligure, taken on the line y thereof. Fig. 6 is an elevation ofthe device as initially folded. Figs. T and o are similar views showingsubsequent foldings. Fig. 9 is a detail view. Fig. l() is a view similarto Fig. 3 of a device constituting another embodiment of the presentinvention; and Fig.. ll is a perspective view of the same device partlyfolded, illustrating the manner of cutting the central portion thereofto alford the interior protecting-flaps.

Referring more speci lically to the drawings, and lirst with particularreference to Figs. l to 9, inclusive, thereof, wherein like referencecharacters refer to similar parts in the several views, A designates athin sheet of material, such as paper, preferably medicated andperfumed, if desired, the same being of a contour and size to overlieand lit the ordinary closet-seat. (Not necessary to be herein shown.)This sheet has what l term an Limpositively secured central portion B,meaning thereby to convey the idea that the portion referred to is heldto the main body by means sufiicient to normally retain the Vformer inplace, but insufficient to prevent quick removal of the same prior tothe. use of the device. The impositivo securing means alluded tocomprises a few narrow widely-separated tabs /aconveniently one each atthe forward, rear, and side edges of the central portion B. lt willbeamn'eciated that the portion B may be quickly removed by simplytearing across the tabs just described previous to placingl the sheet onthe closetand reserved for utilization as toiletpaper. An auxiliarysheet or sheets of the ordinary toilet-paper C is pasted to or otherwiseassociated with the portion B, so as to accompany the latter. Thilo itis probably best that the tabs be integral with the main body of thcsheet A and the central removable portion B--that is, by permitting theIOO sheet to remain intact at these points when otherwise cutting thesurrounding edges of the central portion, as indicated at Z-neverthelessit is to be understood that the central portion may be entirely cut awayin the first instance and thereafter temporarily secured within theopening by means of gummed tabs (See Fig. 9.) In line with the cuttingZ22 and extending forwardly therefrom I formlthe incisions (l, borderinga front flap D, the rear of said flap adjoining the central portion Band being fastened thereto by one of the tabs L, the remainder of thefiap and central portion being separated by the transverse slits CZ.This fiap D is adapted to be bent down behind the forward portion oredge of the seat-opening for the purpose hereinbefore pointed out.

A device made in accordance with the above description possesses markedadvantages and merit which are self-evident.

Probably the best manner of folding' the device is that illustrated inthe drawings, wherein it will be seen that the same is first foldedtransversely in halves on the line e, then in quarters longitudinally onthe line f, again longitudinally on the line g, and finally transverselyon the line t, when the device will be in convenient shape forassemblage in packets, as indicated in Fig. 2. I/Vhen designed for usein a vending-machine, the device may be subsequently folded into thesubstantially oblong shape shown in Fig. l and secured against openingby a band E, whereby the same may not interfere with the working partsof the dispensing mechanism.

It is to be noted that when the device is folded all interior edges ofthe same are thoroughly protected and that the auxiliary sheet or sheetsof toilet-paper are completely inclosed and hidden from view.

Vith reference now more particularly to the form of device illustratedin Figs. l0 and l1 it will be observed that the shape and appearance ofthc article in general is the same as that defined during theconsideration of the preceding figures, the principal differentiatingcharacteristic residing in the fact that in the present device theremovable central portion F comprises flaps H, I, J, and K, formed by aseries of radiating slits G, intersecting at a central point, said flapsbeing so disposed that they may be burst or turned down to overhang theentire inner surface of a seat, surrounding the opening' therein. C

represents several sheets of toilet-paper se.- cured to one of the flapsjust described or arranged adjacent thereto, so as to fold within Themanner of slitting the centhe device.

tral portion of the device is clearly indicated in Fig. I1.

The device last described and shown in Figs. lO and l1 will not beclaimed specifically herein, inasmuch as the details thereof moreproperly constitute subject-matter for a companion application.

It is to be understood that slight changes and alterations may be madein the device herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of theinvention; also, that it is not my intention to be limited to anydetails, excepting in so far as the same may be specifically included inthe hereto-appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Pate-nt, is-

l. As an article of manufacture, a sanitary device comprising a thinsheet having a removable central portion, and an auxiliary sheet orsheets of toilet-paper carried by said central portion.

2. As an article of manufacture, a sanitary device comprising a thinsheet having a removable central portion, and an auxiliary sheet orsheets of toilet-paper carried by said central portion, said thin sheetbeing folded to inclose the toilet-paper therewithin.

3. As an article of manufacture, a sanitary device comprising a thinsheet having a removable central portion, and Aan auxiliary sheet orsheets of toilet-paper carried by said central portion, said thin sheetbeing folded to inclose the toilet-paper therewithin and to protect theinterior edges of the sheet.

4L. As an article of manufacture, a sanitary device comprising a thinsheet adapted to overlie a closet-seat and having a removable portion,and a sheet or sheets of toilet-paper carried by said portion andremovable therewith.

5. As an article of manufacture, a sanitary device comprisinga thinsheet adapted to overlie a closet-seat and having a central portiondesigned to be removed to provide the usual opening, the securing meansconsisting of a few narrow widely-separated connecting-tabs intermediatethe removable central portion and the main body of the sheet, and asheet or sheets of toilet-paper carried by said central portion, saidsheet being folded to protect the interior edges and said securingmeans.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. DAVIS.

iitnesses:

ARTHUR R. MAcLEoD, FRANK L. RIGKER.

